HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY

CHAPTER XVI.

CITY OF NELSONVILLE, THE MINERAL CITY OF THE HOCKING VALLEY.

Mr. Straight kept up the wide-awake spirit of the paper. This was followed by the Mirror, and it was succeeded by the News. The Nelsonville News.---The Nelsonville News may be said to be the successor of the Nelsonville Mirror, although the latter was of short life. The News was established by John A. Tullis in 1879. On his coming to Nelsonville in 1878 he purchased the press and office supplies from the proprietor of the Mirror, but used the press only for job work. The first number of the News was issued Jan. 16, 1879. It was a seven-column paper, 24 x 36 inches, and so continued up to the 26th of the following June, when it was changed to an eight-column paper. Mr. Tullis has been its sole editor and proprietor from the start. The career of this paper has been as prosperous as could be expected under the circumstances. It has been steadily growing in strength, and is now on a firm basis, being not only self-supporting but producing a reasonable profit to its proprietor. It is neutral in politics, the editor's motto being: "An independent journal, devoted to the interest of its patrons." It is issued every Thursday, the sub- scription price being $1.50. John A. Tullis, editor of the Nelsonville News, was born Nov. 11, 1836, near Donnelsville, Clarke Co., O. His father was a farmer in moderate circumstances, keeping his son on the farm with him. In 1844 the family removed to Champaign County, O., still remaining on a farm. His father being unable to send him to college, young Tullis obtained what education he could at the public schools. He afterward attended a seminary in Clarke County, but was not able to continue until completing the course. When he became a man, his health being delicate, he decided to go into a life of business. He consequently engaged in and fol- lowed for a number of years, as long as his health permitted, wholesale produce shipping to New York and Philadelphia mar- kets. The last four years he was in this business he was located at St. Paris, O., where he was also engaged in the printing busi- ness. When he retired from business there, he came to Nelson- ville and established his paper, on which he has worked faithfully ever since. Great credit is due to his perseverance and good management, as he is the first man who succeeded in permanently establishing a newspaper in Nelsonville, although numerous at- tempts had been made. He has well maintained the reputation of his profession, by endeavoring to infuse new and animated life in his fellow citizens. He has advocated public and private im- 434

provements, and it is not at all improbable that some of this seed has fallen in good soil, since at no time in the town's history has the progress of improvement been so great as at the present time. He was married to Miss Susan E. Deaton, of Addison, Cham- paign County, March 31, 1859. Of this union there are three chil- dren, all daughters and all living---Addie A. was born Feb. 5, 1860; Anna V., April 23, 1875, and Mabel, April 5, 1878. Athens County Republican.---The Athens County Republican published at Nelsonville, O., was founded by James A. Miller and Charles Logan, at Athens, O., in May, 1881. The first issue ap- peared June 1, 1881, the name of the paper at that time, and for several months after, being the Athens Republican. Miller & Logan were the proprietors and editors up to Jan. 11, 1882, when the paper appeared with the name of James A. Miller as sole edi- tor, Mr. Logan continuing to be part owner. As the name indi- cates, the paper is Republican in politics, its public statement being, " To be devoted to the promotion and interests of the Re- publican party." In February, 1882, Mr. Miller became the sole proprietor. By the next issue the paper had again changed hands, the names of G. W. Baker, J. M. Wood and J. P.Wood appear- ing as proprietors, and that of G. W. Baker as editor and manager. The last number issued at Athens is dated Aug. 30, 1882, it having been sold to Charles P. Reid, its present owner, and taken at once to Nelsonville. Originally the Republican was a six-column, four-page paper. It was subsequently enlarged, Aug. 3,1881, to seven columns, and May 10, 1882, to eight columns, its present size. It was purchased by Charles P. Reid, who took possession Sept. 1, 1882, removing it to Nelsonville, where he issued the first number the following Thursday. Mr. Reid's name has appeared from that time to the present as sole editor and proprietor. It is issued regularly every Thursday, the subscription price being $1.50. Charles P. Reid, editor of the Athens County Republican, was born Aug. 18, 1858, at Piqua, Miami Co., O. He received a good school education, finishing at Wapakoneta, O. , in April, 1875, at which time he apprenticed himself to O. J. Powell, pub- lisher of the Wapakoneta Republican. He removed with Mr. Powell to Chicago Junction, Huron Co., O., in the winter of 1875-'6, but returned to Wapakoneta in about one month, and im- mediately accepted a situation as foreman with Davis & Mc- 435

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